Pilates Equipment and Apparel Print Before You Choose & Buy a Pilates Ring By Marguerite Ogle linkedin Marguerite Ogle is a freelance writer and experienced natural wellness and life coach, who has been teaching Pilates for more than 35 years. Learn about our editorial process Marguerite Ogle Reviewed by Reviewed by Kristin McGee, CPT on January 17, 2020 instagram Kristin McGee is a certified personal trainer and currently teaches yoga and meditation for Peloton. She is also certified in Pilates and by the National Association of Sports Medicine. Learn about our Review Board Kristin McGee, CPT on January 17, 2020 Verywell / Ben Goldstein More in Pilates Equipment and Apparel Beginners Pilates Certification Workouts In This Article Table of Contents Expand What Is a Magic Circle? Resistance Needed Portability Versus Durability Pads on the Inside and Outside How to Buy a Magic Circle View All Back To Top The magic circle is a Pilates tool created by founder Joseph Pilates that's intended to help practitioners find their center. It's also referred to as a fitness circle, exercise ring, and a fitness ring, but "magic circle" is still the preferred name within Pilates. It is said that Joseph Pilates made the first magic circle from the ring of a keg. It's intended as a secondary prop, and any Pilates exercises can be done without a magic circle. But since they're lightweight and inexpensive, and have a variety of purposes within a Pilates practice, they've grown to become popular props. How can you choose which magic circle is right for you and learn to use it properly? What Is a Magic Circle? The Pilates magic circle is a ring, usually made of flexible metal or rubber, about 13 inches in diameter, with small pads on either side. A magic circle provides muscular feedback and gentle to moderate resistance during a Pilates exercise. It is not intended to provide a heavy strength workout. Users shouldn't pick one up and try to crush it together (although that's usually the first inclination). Instead, try Pilates magic circle exercises like the standing leg press or the arms back. How Much Resistance Do You Need With a Pilates Ring? Flexible metal is the most common material for magic circles. There are some that are all rubber, but the rubber models tend to be on the softer side or too "mushy." If you are a stronger person who wants a muscular challenge, then you will not want a rubber ring or even one of the "lite" versions of the metal. If your purpose is mild resistance and more body placement oriented, then a lighter ring could be perfect. Portability Versus Durability Magic circles are perfect for travel. They don't weigh much, they lay flat, and they take up little space in your luggage. If you are looking for an exercise ring that will stand up to a lot of use (studio use for example) then you will want a regular metal ring. Get Pads on the Inside and Outside It used to be that there were pads only on the outside of the circle. The newer trend is to put pads on the inside of the ring as well, which makes them more versatile. An exercise like the rainbow, for example, where you stabilize the ring with pressure on the inside, is much easier with pads. How to Buy a Magic Circle The best place to start is by asking your Pilates instructor, or to test one that your studio has available. If you do decide to buy one, it may be worth getting it at a shop where you can test it out and get a feel for it. You can also buy magic circles online. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get exercise tips to make your workouts less work and more fun. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit